Starry, Starry Nights
Jayco manufacture a huge range of caravans to suit all sorts of travel requirements, from couples to families. The Starcraft 16.51-3SC is a light-weight and comfortable tourer with a full ensuite to boot.
Jayco Caravans started from pretty humble beginnings in Melbourne in 1975, founded by Gerry Ryan, OAM. Full production of the Jayco’s first campers began in 1976 and since then the company has spread right across Australia with big dealerships and big deals for the Aussie touring public.
Whether you like them or hate them, anyone who spends time on the road anywhere around this big brown land of ours will no doubt be followed by, pass or be overtaken by a vehicle towing a Jayco unit on a daily basis. This highlights just how far Jayco has come as a manufacturer and the diverse range of caravans, campers and now 5th wheelers they produce to suit all touring tastes and budgets.
At this stage of the yarn I will point out that we are reviewing a 2013 model Starcraft which will retail in the low 40s pricewise, however the range is being updated for 2014 and we’d expect a price tag in the mid 40s to apply. Because of freight variations around the country Jayco are not keen to quote a price range which is fair enough, so the pricing I am using is a very rough guide to highlight the value for money.
When I first stepped into our review model my first thought was that it was neat with a simple and practical layout designed for comfy touring. Up front is an island style double bed which sits on a lumbar base and has reasonable storage underneath it and wardrobes either side plus overhead cupboards for more storage. Curtains and pelmets round out this area of the van.
In the centre of the Starcraft on the driver’s side wall is the kitchen. The kitchen is not big however features a corner cupboard, sink and draining board, a hand pump and a mains flick mixer. A cupboard below the bench features three slide out drawers and a drop down cupboard door for storage. Next to the sink is a Dometic 3&1 cook top with a grill and oven while next to that is a Dometic 150 litre fridge freezer. It’s a compact and practical layout for the size of the van.
Opposite the kitchen is an L-shaped lounge dinette which again is practical and will seat up to four people as well as providing a preparation bench for the kitchen if more space is required while cooking. There are three overhead cupboards above the seat and storage below the seat for extra gear.
Across the back of the van is the ensuite. A Thetford toilet sits on the driver’s side while a good sized vanity bench includes a basin. On the wall behind the basin is a large mirror for grooming. The passenger side wall supports the shower which is light and a good size. There is some good storage in this bright and light room.
Other interior features fitted to the Starcraft include a Coleman’s Mack air con heating unit, LED lighting, large Dometic windows with screens and two roof hatches.
Overall the interior is light and pretty straightforward. I found the hand pump loose in the kitchen sink which is more a pre-delivery issue that hadn’t been addressed prior to us taking it out.
The Starcraft is built on a lightweight and engineered galvanised chassis system which includes a 2000kg rated axle and 11-leaf slipper spring suspension system with shockers to help keep everything in control nicely. Electric brakes and 15 inch alloy wheels round out the mechanicals. Underneath there are twin 82 litre water tanks complete with shields. I found the underneath to be quite tidy as you’d expect from Jayco.
Body-wise the Starcraft features a moulded fibreglass front wall and a fibreglass moulded rear wall with lights. Jayco uses 19mm tubular aluminium for the frame and a vacuum bonding process is used for the interior ply wall and the insulation while aluminium cladding is used on the external walls.
Some of the exterior features include a tap on the A-frame, fibreglass cover over twin 9kg gas bottles also mounted on the A-frame and in front there is access to a large boot space under the bed from either side of the van. On the roof is a large aerial for TV reception. A Carefree awning was fitted along with a colour-coded rear bumper and spare wheel, plus this van comes with a battery pack system.
Jayco offer a huge list of optional extras to make touring life easy plus an Outback Pack for those a little more serious in getting into the rougher stuff.
On the road we towed the Starcraft with an automatic, turbo diesel Mitsubishi Challenger. The Challenger offered plenty of power to haul the lightweight van which was rated with a tare of 1727kg. The van sat really neatly on the back and quite level overall, creating a balanced feel for towing.
Overall, the Starcraft comes across well, its finish was neat and it towed well on the highway and secondary roads we traversed. Pricing is always going to be something to consider however whether you are paying in the low 40s for a 2013 model or somewhere in the mid 40s for a 2014 model it’s still going to represent a reasonable touring van for the dollars.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Jayco
Model: Starcraft 16.51-3SC
Body Length: 5.335m (17ft 6in)
Width: 2.470m (8ft 1in)
ATM: 2102kg
Price: Contact your local dealer for pricing.
Thanks To:
We’d like to thank Steven Page for organising the Starcraft for review. Page Bros RV can be found at 46-49 Wells Road in Seaford Vic. Thanks also to Frank Fox from Page Bros and Rowan Wyeth for their help on the day.
Find Out More
Page Bros RV
Phone: 03 9786 1000
Email: sales@pagebros.com.au
Website: www.pagebros.com.au
Jayco
Phone: 1300 JAYCO RV
Email: info@jayco.com.au
Web: www.jayco.com.au